Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Court seeks India government's response on Netflix film revealing rape survivor's identity

Oscar-nominated documentary To Kill A Tiger sparks legal scrutiny over protection of minor

Court seeks India government's response on Netflix film revealing rape survivor's identity

The Delhi high court on Thursday (25) sought the stand of the Centre on a plea seeking action against filmmaker Nisha Pahuja and Netflix for allegedly revealing a minor gang rape survivor's identity in a documentary film in violation of the law. Dev Patel was one of the executive producers of the film.

Set in a Jharkhand village, To Kill A Tiger follows the journey of a man battling for justice for his 13-year-old daughter who was sexually assaulted by three men. The film was nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category at the 96th Academy Awards this year.


A bench of acting chief justice Manmohan issued a notice to the Centre as well as Pahuja, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada, and the OTT platform streaming the film, on a petition by Tulir Charitable Trust and asked them to file their replies.

The bench, also comprising justice Tushar Rao Gedela, refused to stay the streaming of the film in its present form at this stage, observing that it has been available to the public here since March.

The petitioner alleged that the film revealed the identity of the rape survivor, who was 13 years old at the time of the incident, as her face was not "masked" and even showed her in her school uniform.

"The film was shot for 3.5 years. She (Pahuja) made no attempt to mask the minor's identity. There are around 1,000 hours of filmmaking. The poor girl was asked to repeat (her ordeal). All parts are in knowledge of respondent no 5, Netflix," the petitioner's counsel said.

GettyImages 2076088662 scaled To Kill A Tiger crew at Netflix's 2024 Oscar after party (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

The rape survivor could not have refused her consent to publish her identity after she turned a major as there was "a kind of Stockholm syndrome," he alleged.

He said the documentary "panders to international taste" and violated legal provisions in the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and other laws concerning the protection of the identity of minor rape survivors.

The counsel for the Centre sought time to seek instructions on the petition.

The lawyer for one of the private respondents said the film was shot with the permission of the minor girl's parents and released after she had turned major and had also given her consent.

"Once the child is a major, she has the ability to talk about what happened to her if she so chooses," the lawyer argued, adding that if the petitioner's case is accepted, no book or film can ever be made on such an incident, which was not the intent of Parliament when it enacted the laws on the protection of the identity of minor rape victims.

He informed the documentary was first released in Canada in 2022. It was released in India in March of this year.

The matter would be heard next on October 8. (PTI)

More For You

Police officers

Police officers stand guard between an anti fascist group and Tommy Robinson supporters during an anti-immigration rally organised by British anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, in London, Britain, September 13, 2025.

REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

UK defends France migrant returns deal after court blocks first removal

THE British government has defended its new migrant returns deal with France after a High Court ruling temporarily blocked the deportation of an Eritrean asylum seeker, marking an early legal setback to the scheme.

The 25-year-old man, who arrived in Britain on a small boat from France on August 12, was due to be placed on an Air France flight from Heathrow to Paris on Wednesday (17) morning. But on Tuesday (16), Judge Clive Sheldon granted an interim injunction, saying there was a “serious issue to be tried” over his claim to be a victim of trafficking.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian surgeon sentenced to six years for sexual assault

Dr Amal Bose. (Photo: Lancashire Police)

Asian surgeon sentenced to six years for sexual assault

AN ASIAN senior heart surgeon, who abused his position to sexually assault female members of staff, has been jailed for six years.

Dr Amal Bose, from Lancaster, was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault against five colleagues at Blackpool Victoria Hospital between 2017 and 2022. He was cleared of two other charges.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

Trump greets Modi on 75th birthday, trade talks continue in Delhi

Highlights:

  • Both leaders reaffirm commitment to India-US partnership
  • Trade talks resume in New Delhi amid tariff tensions
  • India defends purchase of discounted Russian oil

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday called Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and greeted him ahead of his 75th birthday. The phone call sparked hopes of a reset in India-US ties, which had been under strain after Washington doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Forecasters say 30–40mm of rain is likely to fall widely

iStock

Met Office issues yellow weather warnings as heavy rain threatens flooding in 15 UK areas

Highlights:

  • Two yellow weather warnings issued for parts of Wales and the Midlands
  • Up to 70mm of rain expected, bringing risk of flooding, power cuts and travel delays
  • Flood alerts in place for rivers in Cumbria, Devon, Cornwall and Carmarthenshire
  • Residents advised to prepare emergency kits and stay updated with forecasts

Heavy rainfall set to cause disruption

The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings covering parts of Wales and the Midlands today, with forecasters warning of potential flooding, travel disruption and power cuts. Between 6am and 11am, persistent downpours are expected to sweep eastwards, bringing nearly a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours.

Areas under warning

South and southwest Wales are expected to be worst affected, with Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd and Powys in the Midlands also on alert. In Wales, warnings apply to Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Donald Trump and Melania Trump

Donald Trump and Melania Trump exit Air Force One after arriving at London Stansted Airport for a state visit on September 16, 2025 in Stansted, Essex.

Getty Images

UK rolls out royal welcome as Trump begins second state visit

Highlights:

  • Trump begins his second state visit to the UK with a royal welcome at Windsor Castle
  • Prince William, Catherine, King Charles and Queen Camilla take part in ceremony
  • State banquet and trade talks with prime minister Keir Starmer scheduled
  • Protests and security operation mark visit amid political challenges

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump began his unprecedented second state visit to Britain on Wednesday with a lavish welcome from King Charles and the royal family at Windsor Castle.

Keep ReadingShow less